Exercise 21. Implied Lines in elements of design

Implied lines are  lines that are not physically present.  It is a line that we create or complete by filling in the blanks. Lines are created when the viewers eye connects other elements in the image and makes a line.


For this exercise there are three parts,
Part one requires me to study the two photographs, both of which appear in my notes and study folder from OCA.   I have scanned and downloaded copies of both photographs to enable me to mark the implied lines.

Implied lines are subject to interpretation and I have marked on the bullfight photograph where I see lines, two curved lines show movement of the capes held by the matador and the cure of the bulls back as he moved around the matador, towards the capes.  The third line is an implied line between the hind legs.

Fig 1.

  Fig 2.

There is movement here from the horses and with the raised leg of the farmer, this implies an action of walking. 

  The eye-line shows contact between horse and man, dominated by the horse in the foreground.  The diagonal line of both horses indicates that they are moving around to the front of the farmer, to the right of the image. 

Part 2 of the exercise was to analyse three of my own photographs and find implied lines on them.

Fig 3.    1/160sec    f/5.3    80mm    ISO 100

 Portobello Road

Here the eye-line connection is captured and an implied line following through from the exhaust to the point where the tyre sits on the road.  

Fig 4.    Canon 400d   1/250sec   f/5.6    248mm    ISO 100 

Saham, Oman, Bull Fight.  

No Matadors, bulls tethered onto blue posts around open arena, held on a Friday afternoon throughout the winter.  Bulls are encouraged to 'bait' one another.  No health and safety considered, onlookers sat n the ground, prepared to run if necessary.  This is a male past time, I was a celebrity...being the only female spectator.  

All three males have their gaze fixed on the two fighting bulls in front of them. I have also indicated the movement of the bull on the right, both front feet are off the ground and there is much dust in the air. 

Fig 5.     1/500 sec     f/4.5     55mm     ISO160 

Chobe River Bank, Botswana

  A very distinctive line is created by the density of the foliage of the low growing tree and the trees behind on the river bank.  I leant over the back of the boat to catch the ripples caused by the movement through the water and falling away of the ripples created a second implied line.  

The trunk of the tree which is reaching towards the sun creates a circle in this image. 

Fig 6.    F/7.0    85mm     ISO200

Table top Mountain

Several rows of taut cable car lines, come together to form an implied line, that draw the viewers attention directly down into the scene at ground level and  provides linear perspective.  The lines are a powerful visual clue and show the direction of travel. 

Part 3 of this exercise is to create two photographs with different implied lines:

Fig 7.    Aperture Priority    f/4.0     ISO 160    55mm 

The first is a view of parked lorries on a roadside.  The implied line formed by these parked lorries allows the eye to follow the line into the distance.  The ever hopeful citizen sitting patiently upon his suitcase awaiting his turn to be picked up by a lorry driver and  taken through the border crossing is creating an implied circle and adds an extra dimension.

Fig 8.    F/4.5     55mm     1/600 sec     ISO 250 

Muscat

Henri Cartier-Bresson liked to make brief notes about his work, I have found one short paragraph he has written - 'for me to place head, heart and the eye along the same line of sight.  It is a way of life.' 

The above image embeds Omani tradition in my heart.  At any celebration in life the Omani will feel free to dance. It sets them free, we feel and see their happiness. Part of their past that will remain forever.   It is a way of life.

With the movement seen in this image, there are curved implied lines created, the raising of the Khanjar upwards creates these curves. The slant from lifting oneself from the ground also creating an implied curve.  The raised foot off the ground, shows an upward movement. 

There is eye line between the dancers and an implied triangle has been created naturally between both men.  

To capture this I sat on the ground in the centre of the ceremonial dance circle, as I was invited there by a fellow Omani photographer.